October Recommendations

Upcoming Events

The Whistler Writers Festival is upon us! I’ll be teaching a session for young writers and moderating a session with three excellent writers of books for children and teens.

​Write for fun! Workshop for young writers with Sara Leach
Sunday, October 17, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PDT
Whistler Public Library | In-person or Online | FREE (RSVP)
​

Writers 16 years old and younger are invited to explore writing for fun and enjoyment. We’ll practice writing snappy dialogue and characters that jump off the page. No grades or pressure to share. Just come and write! Award-winning children’s author Sara Leach has published nine books, including Duck Days and Count Me In.

​Difficult Truths: Providing Children & Youth Context for Tough Topics​

With Tanya Talaga, Rebecca Wood Barrett and Xiran Jay Zhao
Sunday, October 17, 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. PDT
Whistler Public Library | In-person or Online | FREE (RSVP)

Why is it important to tackle tough topics and ideas when writing for children and young adults? Acclaimed children’s author and moderator Sara Leach delves into the discussion with children’s and YA authors whose stories and non-fiction involve systemic racism and the failure of policing and justice systems; bullying, loneliness and unusual friendships; and the sacrifice of young women pilots in a misogynist, dystopian world. Featuring Tanya Talaga (Seven Fallen Feathers), Rebecca Wood Barrett (My Best Friend is Extinct) and Xiran Jay Zhao (Iron Widow).

I’m also excited to attend this event:

​Thomas King in Conversation with Tanya Talaga​

Saturday October 16, 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. PDT
Fairmont Chateau Whistler | $22 In-person | $10 Online

Join moderator and Ojibwe author Tanya Talaga (All Our Relations: Finding the Path Forward) in conversation with award-winning novelist and short-story writer Thomas King, author of The Back of the Turtle, The Inconvenient Indian and Indians on Vacation. His latest novel is Sufferance, a sly and satiric look at the fractures in modern existence.

Adult Book Recommendation

​Seven Fallen Feathers by Tanya Talaga

This book should be on every Canadian’s must-read list. And anyone who lives in a colonized country will likely learn some important truths, too. From 2000-2011, seven Indigenous youth died while going to school in Northern Ontario. Talaga tells their stories and details the trauma that years of systemic racism has created. The content is disturbing and harrowing, but Talaga’s story telling makes it readable and compelling as well as important.

Children’s Book Recommendation

​Clara Voyant by Rachelle Delaney

Clara wants to be a hard-hitting investigative reporter for her middle-school newspaper. Instead, she’s assigned to write horoscopes for the year. Her flighty mother and new best friend Maeve are overjoyed, especially when the horoscopes start to come true, but Clara is horrified and disturbed at the idea that she might actually be clairvoyant. This is a light, fun read with a cast of off-beat but supportive characters.

Behind the Scenes

Working with an Illustrator

Many people aren’t aware that when an author submits their work to a publisher, it is without the illustrations. Pajama Press chose Rebecca Bender to illustrate the Slug Days trilogy, and I am so thankful they did! Rebecca’s illustrations fit perfectly with the story. Rebecca and I had very little contact during the creating of the book. She sometimes sent questions or suggestions (for example, in Duck Days she asked that I use the term litterbug to describe Jonas because she could imagine a fun illustration), and I was given a chance to review the illustrations before they were finalized. We’ve never met in person, and had our first conversation over Zoom after Duck Days (the third book in the series) was published.

Professional Resource

​Whistler Writers Festival​

There are so many great events at this festival that I’m including the WWF again this month. Check out these two inexpensive options:

​Worldbuilding for Children’s & YA Books: Workshop for Adults​

With Rebecca Wood Barrett
Saturday, October 16, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. PDT | In-person $30 | Online $10 Fairmont Chateau Whistler

Join Rebecca Wood Barrett for a one-hour writing workshop on how to build an invented world. Drawing on examples from her middle-grade novel My Best Friend is Extinct, she will talk about where ideas come from, how to world-build, and some of the rules of worldbuilding. Bring a pen and paper or a keyboard and get ready to brainstorm fantastical creatures, one big fib, and a little bit of weirdness in a short writing exercise during the workshop.

​Insights from Insiders: Trade Publishing in Canada Today​

Amanda Betts, Elizabeth Kribs, Anna Comfort O’Keeffe, Nita Pronovost, Susan Renouf, Shirarose Wilensky, Janice Zawerbny

Friday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. PDT | Online $10

Want to get your book published through a traditional publisher with a book contract? Join our seven publishers to find out what they’re looking for in a manuscript, how to contact them, and how to best position your book in terms of genre or category. They’ll provide an overview of the state of the industry, particularly in the current situation of the pandemic, and give sage advice on how to get your book published.

Moderator: Katherine Fawcett

Thanks for reading. I hope to see some of you at the Whistler Writers Festival!

Sara

September Recommendations

Upcoming Events

The highlight of my writing year is coming up. The Whistler Writer’s Festival is celebrating it’s 20th year with the theme “A Celebration of Words and Stories”. Every year I feel surrounded by ‘my people’ at the festival—lovers of reading and writing from all over the world. Our festival director, Stella Harvey, and her mighty team are never ones to shirk from a challenge. After putting on an amazing virtual festival last year, they’ve decided to go hybrid this year in order to be as inclusive as possible.

I’ll be leading two free events this year:

​Difficult Truths: Providing Children & Youth Context for Tough Topics. With Tanya Talaga, Rebecca Wood Barrett and Xiran Jay Zhao. Moderated by Sara Leach.

Whistler Public Library

October 17 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. PDT | FREE In-person or Online (RSVP)

Why is it important to tackle tough topics and ideas when writing for children and young adults? Acclaimed children’s author and moderator Sara Leach delves into the discussion with children’s and YA authors whose stories and non-fiction involve systemic racism and the failure of policing and justice systems; bullying, loneliness and unusual friendships; and the sacrifice of young women pilots in a misogynist, dystopian world.

​Write for fun! Workshop for young writers​
With Sara Leach
Whistler Public Library
Sponsored by: Vision Pacific
October 17 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. PDT | FREE In-person or Online (RSVP)

Writers 16 years old and younger are invited to explore writing for fun and enjoyment. We'll practice writing snappy dialogue and characters that jump off the page. No grades or pressure to share. Just come and write!

And here's one of the many reading events I plan to attend:

​Thrills, Chills and Authors Who Kill: A Murder Mystery and Discussion with Five Thriller Writers​

Gail Anderson-Dargatz, Linwood Barclay, Bill Deverell, Joy Fielding, Linden McIntyre
Sponsored by: RE/MAX Sea to Sky Real Estate
1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. PDT | Online $10

​The full event schedule can be found here.​

Adult Book Recommendation

The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson

Ever since my son did a project on CRISP-Cas9 gene editing five years ago, I’ve been intrigued by possibilities it opens, so I leapt at the chance to read this book about the science, politics and ethics that surround it. The book was readable, thought provoking and inspiring. I especially recommend this for any teenager (especially girls!) interested in science.

Children’s Book Recommendation

Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
Audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker

Aven Green is a feisty, funny 13-year-old who was born with no arms but has never let it stop her. Up until now the kids at her school have always accepted her. But when her family moves to Arizona to manage Stagecoach Pass, a Western-style theme park, she has to navigate a middle school full of kids who only see her disability. Things start to look up when she befriends Connor, a boy with Tourette’s, and together they discover that Stagecoach Pass holds a bigger mystery than she could have imagined. I listened to this one on audiobook, and Karissa Vacker’s narration amplified the humour. I giggled all the way up the highway as I drove home. The book also made me think differently about how I react to people with disabilities and taught me a lot about Tourette’s.

Behind the Scenes

Warm Up

The idea for this book sprang to mind when my editor at Orca Book Publishers reached out to tell me they were starting a new series about the performing arts and asked if I’d like to pitch an idea. I leapt at the chance because I danced recreationally and competitively for twenty years. It was one of the easiest books for me to write for two reasons. My dance background meant I had details about dance classes, studios and the strong emotions felt by dancers readily available. Also, I had to submit a chapter-by-chapter synopsis before the book was approved for publication, so when I sat down to write each day I knew exactly what scene to write next. You’d think after that experience I would outline all my subsequent books, but somehow I’ve never been able to do such a detailed plan for any book since.

Professional Resource

​Whistler Writers Festival​

The WWF has been my main source of professional development for the last 20 years, and has been an integral reason for my publishing success. I’m also on the board of directors, so I may be biased, but I think our festival is the best. We consistently get rave reviews about the quality of instruction, and attendees love how accessible our visiting authors are. Since this year is a hybrid event, everyone can join. Some more events to highlight: On Thursday, October 14: The day-long Publish Like a Pro workshops; on Friday: Insights from Insiders: Trade Publishing in Canada Today and Speed Dating: Pitch Your Book Idea to Publisher; on Saturday: Worldbuilding for Children’s and YA Books.

I hope to “see” you there!

Thanks for reading. If you’d like to receive my monthly recommendations and information about upcoming events to your email inbox, sign up for my newsletter here. https://fabulous-pioneer-6482.ck.page/151214c362

August Recommendations

Adult Book Recommendation

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

This book is the reason my newsletter is a few days late this month. I started reading it and enjoyed it so much I wanted to include it here. A woman tries to commit suicide. Between life and death she finds herself in a library full of books that take her to alternate lives she’s led in parallel universes. She has the chance to see how making different choices along the way could have changed her world, and discovers sometimes it is the smallest decisions that have a surprising impact. Even though the premise of the book sounds dark, it is a book full of hope and a quick and compelling read.

Children's Book Recommendation

Mascot by Antony John

Thanks in part to my sister and my niece, I’ve read a lot of middle grade novels that feature main characters overcoming physical challenges. Mascot is one of the best. Noah has been in a wheelchair for months since a car accident. While his physiotherapist thinks he might walk again, he isn’t interested in putting in the work. As he struggles with a bully on his former baseball team and anger at the way his life has changed, he’s helped by his quirky new friend, Double-Wide, and a faithful friend, Alyssa. The characters and relationships in this book are hilarious, touching, real and multi-faceted, and the story had me ripping through the pages to find out what would happen.

Behind the Scenes

Jake Reynolds: Against The Tide

Yesterday I paddleboarded by the beach where much of this book takes place. I was inspired to write it after reading an article about a rare sighting of a Blue-Footed Booby off the BC coast. I also drew on experience from my childhood summers near Desolation Sound—the warnings we were constantly given to watch out for the current, the terror I felt when friends wanted to break the rules, and the thrill of discovering secret places.

Professional Resource

Manuscript Academy website and podcast

​https://manuscriptacademy.com/​

The Manuscript Academy is an ongoing, online writer’s conference. For a monthly fee you get access to all their recorded videos on craft and publishing, as well as early access to 10-minute meetings with agents and editors (there is a further fee to do these meetings). They also hold live events each month with agents and host a free podcast. I thought the sessions on finding and querying agents were excellent.

Thanks for reading. If you’d like to receive my monthly recommendations and information about upcoming events to your email inbox, sign up for my newsletter here. https://fabulous-pioneer-6482.ck.page/151214c362

July Recommendations

Children’s Book Recommendation

A Whale of the Wild by Roseanne Parry

This middle-grade story is beautifully told through the point of view of two young orca whales that are part of the Southern Resident Whale pod in the Salish Sea near the San Juan Islands. After a double-tragedy strikes their pod, Vega and her younger brother, Deneb, are separated from their family. Vega must keep her brother safe on their perilous journey as they search for much-needed food and their kin. I loved the descriptions from the whales’ point of view and felt totally immersed in their underwater world. There are some tough themes in this book, which may be better-suited for older middle-grade readers.

Adult Book Recommendation

The Mountain Story by Lori Lansens

Wolf Truly, an experienced hiker, heads up a mountain outside of Palm Springs with no food or water and no intention of returning home. Three women also go up the mountain that day, and through a series of missteps the four of them get stranded in the wilderness. As days pass without rescue, they are bonded together and forced to push themselves beyond limits they never dreamed possible. This story has so many things I love in a book—mountain adventure, intricate and surprising characters and relationships and beautiful descriptions of the setting.

Behind the Scenes

Slug Days

I originally wrote Slug Days as a picture book manuscript many years ago when I was teaching a student with autism. I didn’t feel I was being the best teacher I could be and I wanted to explore what a day might be like from her point of view. Even though I was only imagining her experience, I think writing the book made me a better teacher—especially after my critique group members told me the teacher in the book seemed awfully mean!

Professional Resource

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Publishing Children’s Books by Harold D. Underdown and Lynne Rominger

This is a great primer on the children’s book industry. It breaks down the different types of children’s books and publishers and walks the reader through the steps to submitting. My edition came out pre-internet, but even if the newer edition doesn’t talk about electronic submissions it would still be worth reading.

Thanks for reading. If you’d like to receive my monthly recommendations and information about upcoming events to your email inbox, sign up for my newsletter here. https://fabulous-pioneer-6482.ck.page/151214c362​

June Recommendations

Upcoming Events

I'm excited and honoured to announce that Penguin Days has been shortlisted for the Chocolate Lily Book Award. This young readers' choice award encourages students across the province to read books written and/or illustrated by BC authors and illustrators.

On July 8th I’ll be taking part in the Whistler Writers Festival’s first-ever hybrid Summer Reading Series. The series kicks off with a Spotlight on B.C. Authors on the evening of July 8th with a hybrid in-person and live broadcast reading event. Featured authors include Joshua Whitehead (Jonny Appleseed), Katherine Fawcett (The Swan Suit), Sara Leach (Duck Days), Mary MacDonald (The Crooked Thing) and moderator Leslie Anthony.

On the afternoon of Saturday July 10th, the series presents an outdoor book celebration for families—with activities, refreshments, and a presentation by Rebecca Wood Barrett (My Best Friend is Extinct).

In the evening of July 10th, a virtual reading and Q&A will feature authors Angie Abdou (This One Wild Life), Hassan Al Contar (Man at the Airport: How Social Media Saved My Life), Francesca Ekwuyasi (Butter Honey Pig Bread), Bruce Kirkby (Blue Sky Kingdom: A Family Journey to the Heart of the Himalaya), and Nisha Patel (Coconut), moderated by Rebecca Wood Barrett. Visit www.whistlerwritersfest.com in mid-June for tickets and more details.

Adult Book Recommendation

Greenwood by Michael Christie

This family saga, stretching from 2038 back to 1908 and then forward to 2038, is told in a format of concentric stories that mimics tree-ring growth. Each multifaceted characters has a connection to trees--protecting them, building with them or cutting them down. The settings, plot and characters are all rendered in beautiful detail. I LOVED this book.

Children's Book Recommendation

The Matilda Effect by Ellie Irving

Young inventor Matilda learns that her granny was once a scientist who discovered her own planet. Granny’s boss took credit for the discovery and decades later is about to be awarded the Nobel prize. Determined to show everyone the truth, Matilda helps Granny escape from her care home and they embark on a romp from England to Sweden via laundry cart, milk truck, boat, hot air balloon, train and motorbike. This book requires a strong suspension of disbelief, but I loved Matilda’s quirkiness, humour, love of science and strong voice.

Behind the Scenes

Sounds of the Ferry

Before I wrote Sounds of the Ferry, my intention was for it to be a book about the machines on a ferry boat, very similar to Mountain Machines. I asked BC Ferries to give me a tour of the boat (it’s amazing what people will agree to when you tell them you’re writing a book). I rode round trip from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo and was given a tour of all the decks, including the engine room and the navigation room. Instead of being wowed by the machines, I was struck over and over again by the sounds I heard. Thus, Sounds of the Ferry was born.

Professional Resource

Podcast: Kidlit Confidential

Canadian author Vicky Grant has started a new podcast about who does what in the children's book biz and how it impacts us as creators. In this episode she interviews agent Fiona Kenshole who has great advice on how to write a query letter. Fiona’s advice would work whether you are sending a query to an agent or a editor at a publishing house directly. One piece of advice that really stuck with me—Fiona says when she reads a query she thinks “Why should I read this book? Why should I read it now? Why is this the author to write it?” Listen here.​

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to receive my recommendations directly to your email inbox each month, subscribe here.

If you’d like to purchase any of these books, you can visit your local independent bookstore, or click on the image for an affiliate link to amazon.ca.

May 2021 Recommendations

The first draft of my most recent project is almost finished. Hurray! I wrote my characters into several holes, but managed to dig them out again. I’m counting on my critique group to point out the inconsistencies, boring parts and missing information, and to suggest better solutions for climbing out of holes (or in this case, climbing down mountains).

Upcoming Events

The next month is quiet for me, but stay posted for news about a spring reading event hosted by Whistler Writers Festival.

For those of you who missed the Vancouver Public Library panel on writing for children that I took part in, you can watch the recording here. https://cwillbc.wordpress.com/2021/04/17/writing-kids-books-the-inside-story-2/

Children’s Book Recommendation

Darius the Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

This YA book made me cry, in a good way. Darius considers himself a Fractional Persian—his mother was born and raised in Iran, and his father is white. When he travels with his family to Iran to visit his terminally ill grandfather, at first he feels even more out of place than he does at home. But as he gets to know his loving family there and meets Sohrab, the boy next door, he begins to feel more like his true self than he ever has before. I loved the descriptions of Iran—the people, the food, the cities and sights, as well as the heartfelt way it deals with depression and family.

Adult Book Recommendation

The One-In-A-Million Boy by Monica Wood

When itinerant musician Quinn’s young son dies, he seeks to make up for his distanced relationship with him by completing his son’s commitment to doing yard work for a 104-year-old woman. As he gets to know the prickly woman, he learns more about his son and their plan to get her into the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest licensed driver. Although the premise of this books centres around the death of a child (who is never named) and is about grief, it is full of hope, humour, love and wonderful characters.

Behind the Scenes

Jake Reynolds: Chicken or Eagle?

Jake is sure there is a wolf on Hidalgo, and he’s terrified by the idea. When I was a child, I spent part of every summer on an island near Desolation Sound, BC. For several years there was a wolf on the island, and it terrified me, even though I’d never seen or heard it. I drew on those feelings when writing the book. Ironically, after the book was published, a wolf came back to the island—with several friends. It was slightly less scary for me 25-years later.

Professional Resource

The Writers Union of Canada
www.writersunion.ca​

While one needs to be published to become a member of the Writers Union of Canada, their website has great resources for pre-published writers as well. Some highlights include the ongoing webinar series (look for webinars that say “public”), a list of Canadian literary agents, a manuscript evaluation service (fee based) and a list of inexpensive books and flyers that cover a wide range of writing business-related topics.

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to receive my recommendations directly to your email inbox each month, subscribe here.

If you’d like to purchase any of these books, you can visit your local independent bookstore, or click on the image for an affiliate link to amazon.ca.

April 2021 Recommendations

Happy Spring!

I’m pleased to report that my characters are behaving (or misbehaving) themselves again, even though Covid-19 news is grim in our little mountain town. Whistler Blackcomb has closed but Whistler Olympic Park is still open for cross country skiing and large doses of sunshine and beautiful mountain views are helping Kaytoo and Al (the characters in my current project) find their funny bones.

Upcoming Events

On April 8 at 6:00 pm I'll be having an online conversation with Rebecca Wood Barrett about her new middle-grade novel, My Best Friend is Extinct. Earlier that day Rebecca will lead a one-hour writing workshop for young writers on how to build an invented world. Sign up to RSVP and get your event link for either of these free events at: youthservices@whistlerlibrary.ca.

Children’s book recommendation

El Deafo by Cece Bell

This is a heartwarming autobiographical graphic novel. After contracting meningitis at a young age, Cece loses most of her hearing. The book chronicles her journey through elementary school as she learns to cope with hearing aids, making friends and dealing with the reactions of her peers to her deafness.

Adult Book Recommendation

The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths

I’ve been reading a lot of mysteries over the last few months, and the Ruth Galloway series by Elly Griffiths is one of my favourites. In this book, the first in the series, Ruth, a university lecturer in forensic archaeology is called out to investigate bones found in the saltmarshes of the Norfolk coast. I love the description of Norfolk and the coast, and the character development throughout this series.

Behind the Scenes

Mountain Machines

I was inspired to write Mountain Machines when my son was two. The Sea to Sky highway was under construction to prepare for the Olympics. The road construction started twenty minutes south of our house, and it was perfect timing—just as Ben began to get cranky on the drive to Vancouver, we’d have a good ten minutes of viewing to entertain him. He’d identify all the machines as we passed: “Road roller! Excavator! Grader! Backhoe!” After realizing just how much little kids loved big machines, I decided to write about the machines in a place I knew very well—the ski hill.

Resource for Writers

​www.authormedia.com​

Thomas Umstattd Jr. runs a podcast called Novel Marketing, which you can access through his Author Media site. He’s full of tips for authors, whether you are just beginning your journey or are an established author. It tends to skew a bit towards the self-publishing world and also has some crossover with his Christian publishing podcast, but I have found it very useful for my own marketing even though it doesn’t always directly relate to my own writing. One of the suggestions of his I really like is to not publish your first novel. Consider it your learning experience. Your second book will be much better.

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to receive my recommendations directly to your email inbox each month, subscribe here.

If you’d like to purchase any of these books, you can visit your local independent bookstore, or click on the image for an affiliate link to amazon.ca.

March 2021 Recommendations

I realized in February that the supposedly funny, happy-go-lucky characters in my current project seem to be worrying an awful lot. Perhaps now that March is here and with it more vaccines, my characters will start to loosen up. Maybe they’ll even feel comfortable joining a crowd and travelling!

Upcoming Events

On March 23rd at 6:30 pm I’ll be part of a panel discussion hosted by the Vancouver Public Library and CWILL BC. Writing and Illustrating Kids Books: The Inside Story is a free online event open to anyone and is a great opportunity to hear from professional children’s writers and illustrators about how they broke into the field and built their careers. Click here to access the event.​

Later in March I’ll be speaking with inGirls, a club for girls with autism. I’ve heard this is a lively group and I can’t wait to speak with them about my books, Lauren, and the writing process.

On April 8 at 6:00 pm I'll be having an online conversation with Rebecca Wood Barrett about her new middle-grade novel, My Best Friend is Extinct. See below for more about the book. Earlier that day Rebecca will lead a one-hour writing workshop for young writers on how to build an invented world. Sign up to RSVP and get your event link for either of these free events at: youthservices@whistlerlibrary.ca.

Children’s Book Recommendation

My Best Friend is Extinct by Rebecca Wood Barrett

I’m so excited to share this newly released middle grade novel by my friend and fellow critique group member. Rebecca’s story takes readers on a wild romp through the hidden world of a snow-covered town. Readers will cheer for quirky and lovable Henry as he navigates the challenges of friendship with his classmates on the school field and in secret tunnels with his new buddy and prehistoric creature,Yarp. This book had me laughing out loud and biting my nails. It is a great wintery adventure story for middle-grade readers.

Adult Reading Recommendation

Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bergen

This readable non-fiction book posits that humans are hardwired for kindness, cooperation and trust, and backs it up with research and real-life cases to counter the stories we’ve learned to assume are the truth. He finds a true example of a Lord of the Flies scenario where the boys cooperated and created a working society for a year and delves into the flaws of the Stanford Prison Experiment. We could all use some positive news about humanity, and this book fits the bill. The best part is it isn’t even escapism, it’s realism.

Behind the Scenes

Count Me In was inspired by a story my friend, Jane, told me about a hiking trip her family took to Lake Lovely Water near Squamish. When writing the story, I imagined what it would have been like for me to go hiking with her and her very strong, accomplished family when I was a teenager. I’m an experience hiker now, but I definitely wasn’t at age 12! Tabitha’s experience is based on how I likely would have felt in that situation--like a fish out of water.

Resource for Writers

Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott

This book on writing is both hilarious and full of specific advice for writers. One of my favourite tips is to write “short assignments.” She suggests thinking about your writing as though you are looking through a one-inch picture frame. When you are overwhelmed, find one small scene you can write. For example, “today I will write a paragraph describing what my character saw when he rode the ferris wheel.” I use this trick a lot when the idea of a whole book, or even a chapter, looms so large in front of me that I can’t get started.

Thanks for reading! If you’d like to receive my recommendations directly to your email inbox each month, subscribe here.

If you’d like to purchase any of these books, you can visit your local independent bookstore, or click on the image for an affiliate link to amazon.ca.

World Read Aloud Day 2021

February 3, 2021 was World Read Aloud Day, and I celebrated by doing virtual author visits with eight schools across North America over two days. It was a wild ride, and so much fun. Each visit was a different experience. I had 100 second graders from New Jersey join a Zoom call from their homes. On another call I read to and answered questions from eight students from the Tsawassen First Nation in British Columbia. I did a Streamyard broadcast to ten Kindergarten classes in New York—that was something new for me, as I couldn’t see any of their faces while I spoke. I spoke with students in Texas, Kansas and BC.

Getting ready for the big day took some time. I wanted to make sure I had good lighting and an interesting, but not too busy background. Here is what my set up looked like. The odd white shape is a clip-on lamp covered with a pillowcase to create diffuse light.

I had wonderful, thought-provoking questions from the students. I’m almost always asked which is my favourite book of the ones I’ve written, and I always dodge the question! Some other questions: Why does Lauren have a sister? (Because the original student who inspired Lauren had a baby sibling.) Why is Dan so mad and mean? (Because he doesn’t understand how to be friends with someone who thinks differently than he does.) How long does it take you to write a book? (Anywhere from three weeks to seven years, depending on the book and depending on whether you are talking about a first draft or a completed book.)

One of the classes I spoke to was a lively French Immersion class in Victoria, BC. At the end of our Q and A, one of the students, Adelina McKean, showed me a drawing she made of me during the presentation. She later mailed it to me. Thank you, Adelina. I will keep it as a memento of WRAD 2021!

Illustration by Adelina McKean

February 2021 Recommendations

As I write this, the sun is rising over fresh snow and I’m listening to the soundtrack of avalanche control bombs on the mountain. There will be happy skiers up there today. It has been a busy week for me. To celebrate World Read Aloud Day on February 3, I did virtual author visits with schools in New York, New Jersey, Kansas, Texas and British Columbia. Over two days I spoke with more that 500 students!

Upcoming Events

This month you can hear a podcast interview I did for Buzz On Book Biz. Richelle Wiseman’s podcast explores the world of publishing and book marketing. We discussed how I was inspired to write my books, self-publishing vs. traditional publishing, and what makes a good children’s book. You can listen to the episode here.​

February 17 is I Read Canadian Day. Join the challenge to read 15 minutes of Canadian literature and post about it on social media. This day is also a time to support your local independent book store, something I encourage you to do no matter where you live.

Aspiring writers and illustrators take note: On March 23rd at 6:30 pm I’ll be part of a panel discussion hosted by the Vancouver Public Library and CWILL BC. This free online event is open to anyone and is a great opportunity to hear from professional children’s writers and illustrators about how they broke into the field and built their careers.

Children's Book Recommendation

Izzy in the Doghouse by Caroline Adderson

This fun chapter book would be a great read for fans of the Slug Days series and Ivy and Bean. Izzy and Zoë are best friends—most of the time—except when Izzy gets the two of them in trouble. Izzy is heartbroken when Zoë takes a break from their friendship. When her family adopts a dog, Izzy thinks her troubles are over. But adopting a dog is a lot harder than she expects! Full of laughs and over-the-top moments, this book explores themes of friendship, adoption and of course, pet care.

Adult Book Recommendation

DreadfulWater by Thomas King

I’m a big fan of a good character-based mysteries (think Louise Penny). Thomas King’s DreadfulWater series is a great example of this. His books are full of tension and humour and the characters take centre-stage. They develop from book to book. His reluctant detective, DreadfulWater, also has a dry sense of humour that had me laughing out loud.

Behind the Scenes

In Penguin Days, there is a scene where Lauren and her cousin “speak” to the cows by mooing. This was inspired by my dad, Norm, who thought of himself as a champion mooer. Whenever he passed a field of cows he stopped and mooed at them. One time he did such a good job he got a field of cows stampeding toward my sister and I. Maybe writing the scene in Penguin Days was my way of working through the ‘trauma’ of that event!

Resource for Writers

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook by Donald Maass is one of my favourite writing resources, and I return to it with almost every project. You don’t just read this book, you “do” it. Every section contains key attributes that a good story needs, along with examples from published books and exercises to create those attributes in your own project. My favourite tip is to add tension to every page in your story.

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January 2021 Recommendations

Upcoming Events

This month I'll be presenting digitally to the grade threes at Saint Michael's University School in Victoria. Also, keep an eye out for an article about Duck Days in Pique Newsmagazine.

My Children's Book Recommendation...

January's recommendation is Tacky and The Winter Games, a picture book by Helen Lester and Lynn Munsinger. This has been one of my favourite picture books for years. Tacky the Penguin is an odd bird, and he befuddles his teammates from Nice Icy Land as they train for and compete in the Winter Games. He gets them disqualified by bellysliding down the bobsled and crashes in the ski jumping event. He nearly wrecks their chances of a medal entirely by eating the baton in the speedskating competition, but manages to pull through in his own odd fashion. This is such a fun read-aloud. I'm not sure who has more fun--the students I read it to or me.

What I'm reading now...

I'm really enjoying Warlight by Michael Ondaatje. I love its opening line: "In 1945 our parents went away and left us in the care of two men who might have been criminals." Set in the chaos of post-war London, is has a wonderful, eclectic cast of characters and is both a beautifully written and satisfying story.

Behind the scenes...

The idea for Duck Days came when I was trying to find a new challenge for Lauren at school, and I thought of the WORCA bike programs that are run at Spring Creek Community School each year. Most of the kids love the mountain biking days, but there are a few for whom they are a big challenge. I wanted Lauren to have a physical challenge as well as a friendship challenge. I also wanted her to solve it in her own way, which is why she didn't learn to ride without her training wheels.